FISHERSBURG – Jared Rebuck, 25, of Elwood, IN, was arrested Christmas morning after allegedly attempting to poison a pregnant woman to induce a miscarriage, according to the Madison county sheriff’s department.

Deputies were called to the woman’s home in Fishersburg where she said she smelled “a strange odor” coming from a drink Rebuck had prepared and given to her and she was suspicious he had put some sort of chemical in it. She also discovered that Rebuck had done Google searches on ways to cause a miscarriage.

Upon questioning, Rebuck allegedly admitted he used a substance called clary sage or salvia sclarea, a medicinal herb, that he had read could cause the uterus to contract, resulting in a miscarriage in pregnant women.

The woman was in the very early stages of pregnancy, having just confirmed it with a blood test the previous week. Health officials don’t believe the substance will be fatal for the fetus.

Rebuck was charged with attempted feticide, a level 3 felony, and booked in the Madison county jail with a $20,000 cash bond. If convicted, he could face 3-20 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.

Source: The Herald Bulletin